[Captain Tom Coughlin]

I would imagine that exploratory ships would have the ability to defend themselves.

[horatio]

If it is a bunch of plasma cannons which barely suffices to blow up comets I'd rather stay at home as scientist and if the vessel has enough weapons aboard to deal with most threats you need a tactical crew anyway.

I think it is important to have warships like the Defiant in the fleet. In peacetimes you can still use her for other stuff. But what do you do with such ships all the time when you have them in a separate military institution?

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

There's an obvious flipside to that as well. using heavily armed ships that are essentially "battle cruisers" like the Enterprise for exploration could just as easily spark off war. A ship like that strays across a border it does not know exists, it could certainly be seen as a threat.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

Those ships are never not in use, they are an active deterrent against aggression from outside.

[horatio]

Originally Posted by Captain Tom Coughlin

There's an obvious flipside to that as well. using heavily armed ships that are essentially "battle cruisers" like the Enterprise for exploration could just as easily spark off war. A ship like that strays across a border it does not know exists, it could certainly be seen as a threat.

Sure but I'd rather not go into deep space without being fully capable to defend myself. Not all scientists are as obsessed as the Hansens.

Originally Posted by Captain Tom Coughlin

Those ships are never not in use, they are an active deterrent against aggression from outside.

I do not see that a separated fleet would automatically have more firepower than one with multi-task vessels.
As you said the Constitution can very well be perceived as a battle cruiser so I'd rather guess that it is the other way around.

Not that I am against warships, one might wanna use them for border patrol and stuff like that but as all your ships need a lot of basic stuff anyway, i.e. a warship needs sensors and a scientific vessels needs weapons, it seems to me that ordinarily you want multi-tasking vessels that can use all of these systems.

[omegaman]

If we look back in maritime history a lot of early exploration vessels were able to defend themselves. Space exploration vessels should be no different. I'd hate to turn up to a party unprepared - gifts and guns; the only way to travel.

[horatio]

Gifts and guns.
I always say cargo bay three should be used purely for Romulan Ale that but my lieutenant never listens to me.

[Captain Tom Coughlin]

Now a cargo bay filled with Romulan Ale is an idea I think we can all get behind!

[horatio]

Everybody likes it.

[Saquist]

Originally Posted by omegaman

If we look back in maritime history a lot of early exploration vessels were able to defend themselves. Space exploration vessels should be no different. I'd hate to turn up to a party unprepared - gifts and guns; the only way to travel.

Should be on the ships plaque